Coin operated vending machine



June 17, 1941. A. A. BRADT COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenicm;

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' COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16. 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I I l 121": i I 70 775 l nveniow; I ARDDN A.BRADT m5 $15 June 17, 1941. A. BRADT 2,245,898

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ARDON A. BRADT orne Patented June 17, I941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Ardon A. Bradt, Niagara Falls, N. Y.

Application December 16, 1938, Serial No. 246,055

Claims.

This invention relates to coin operated vending machines and has as an object the provision of an improved machine of the character referred to.

In the drawings, which are appended to aid in the understanding of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the exterior and part of the interior of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line VV of Fig. 3, with the pay-out slides in the fully retracted position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line VV of Fig. 3, with the pay-out slides in the fully advanced position;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in elevation in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in elevation in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a simplified view of a modification of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a part of the modification shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line XI-Efl of Fig. 9.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is of the type that dispenses tokens, coupons or fortune-telling cards but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to machines dispensing such articles because the drawings are for illustrative purposes and the machines can be modified to dispense merchandise of substantially any description Without departing from the scope of the invention. In the present disclosure, the term token will be used for simplicity of language, with the understanding that the term shall mean not only tokens of the usual sort, but coupons of all sorts, fortune-telling cards, and merchandise of the nature that can be dis pensed by a machine.

Fig. 1 shows a machine comprising a plurality of magazines I, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, adapted to contain a supply of different kinds of tokens, in a case i. At the top of the machine illustrated is a coin slot 8 and at the right a handle 9 which is adapted to set into operation the mechanism in the case when pulled down after a coin has been deposited in the slot 8. A window |0 permits a view of the symbols l2 and I3, which are carried on revolvable wheels and which indicate the nature of the token that is to be dispensed at opening M at the conclusion of the particular operation of the machine.

Fig. 2 shows the magazines I, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 provided with bottom closure members 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, which are slidably mounted beneath the respective magazines and supported by the plate 28.

The closure plates 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 have normally projecting legs 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, respectively, which are engaged by the detents 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46, respectively.

The detent 46 that engages the leg 39 of the closure member 26 is connected to the lever 56 by means of a link 56" shownin Figs. 2 and 3. The other detents 42, 43, 44 and 45 are connected by similar links to similar levers, none of which are shown in Fig. 2 but all of which are shown in Fig. 3.

The movement of the lever 56, and hence the movement of the detent 46, is controlled by the relative positions of the perforated disks 6|, 62 and 63, which are connected to the revolvable drums H, 12 and '13, respectively. Each of the drums and its respectively connected disk is independently rotatable with respect to the other drums and disks.

The disks 6|, 62 and 63 have notches completely around their peripheries (as shown in Fig. 4) and these notches are engageable by the spring actuated pawl 80. Engagement of the pawl with the notches in the disks El. 62 and 63 causes these disks and their respectively connected drums H, 12 and 13 to rotate freely and independently until the pawls BI, 82 and 83 engage the notched peripheries of the disks 9|, 92 and 93, respectively. The disks 9|, 92 and 93, being connected to the drum 1!, 12 and 13, respectively, cause the drums to come to rest when the pawls 8|, 82 and 83 engage notches in their peripheries. The pawls 8|, 82 and 83 are rotatable about the shaft 84 and are engaged by the arm 85, which turns on the shaft 84 just prior to the actuation of the drums H, I2 and 13 by the engagement of the pawl 80 with the notched disks El, 62 and 63 and pushes the lower parts of the pawls 8|, 82 and 83 toward the rear of the machine and thus lifts the opposite ends of the pawls 8|, 82 and 83 away from and out of engagement with the notched disks 9|, 92 and 93.

When the movement of the handle 9 has proceeded to a certain point it becomes disengaged from the actuating mechanism and the arm 84 is returned to a position toward the front of the machine and out of engagement with the pawls BI, 82 and 83, whereupon the pawls BI, 82 and 83 again engage the notched disks III, 92 and 93 and bring the drums H, I2 and I3 with their respectively connected disks 6 I, 62 and S3 to rest.

As stated above, the disks GI, 62 and 63 are perforated. These perforations are in a predetermined pattern such that by the disks 6!,62 and 63 coming to rest at certain positions, a

perforation in each of the disks will come into' alignment and provide an opening through which the finger 86 at the upper end of the lever 53 will be urged by the spring 8?. In this arrangement of the disks SI, 62 and 53 the finger 85 passes ward positions of the upper and lower slides IIII and I532 are shown in Fig. 6.

The upper slide Ifil is of such thickness that it will permit one, and only one, of the tokens I39 to drop from the magazine I into the opening H31 in the slide IUI. When the operation of the machine has proceeded to the point where the perforated disks BI, 62 and 63 have come to rest after freely revolving and no openin'g therethrough has been provided to permit movement of any of the levers 52; 53, 54, 55'or 56, the two slides IfiI and IE2 are pulled back by the springs H0 and H4, but the movement of the slide I02 is arrested by the detent H3 when the opening through all of them and the tip 88 of 'the'finger 88 protrudes beyond the face 89 of the disk 63 This movement of the finger 86 through the disks SI, 52 and as causes the lever 56 to turn 'on its pivot 90 and thereby move its lower arm in a with the leg 36 of the closure means by meansof the link 56' and permits the movement of the plate into a dispensing position, as showri in Fig. 3. w 7

When the disks GI, .62 and 63 come to rest in certain other positions, their perforationsline up to provide an opening through which one or an other of fingers similar to that of the lever 56 shown in Fig. 2, but which are connected to other levers not shown in Fig. 2, may pass and thus cause the operation of one or another of the other closure members 22, 23, 24 or 26, by means of links 52, 53, 54 or 55'.

In still other positions of the disks BI, 62 and 63, no through opening will be provided for any finger of a lever similar to the lever 58 shown in Fig. 2, in which case none of the closures 22 2 3, 24, 25 or 26 is caused to open and dispense a token, coupon or fortune-telling card. When the disks line up in such positions that none of the closures 22, 23, 24, 25 or'26 is opened, the closure member 2 I of the magazine I is operated to dispense a token, coupon, fortune-telling cardor other article contained in that magazine.

The closure member 2| for the stack I comtion the first movement that takes place is one I whereby the clearance bar I is moved-forwardby means of the dog I 06 in order that any closure member that was opened by the previous operation of the machine may be restored to itsclosed position. As this forward movement of the clearance bar I85 takes place, it pushes on the arms I93 and I04 to move them underthe magazine I. Fig. 5 shows the closure member 2I of the stack I just before the beginning of the forward movement of the dog I513 and the clearance bar I65. As the clearance bar I55 moves forward, it pushes the upper slide IilI forward until the opening I 01 is directly under the magazine I- and pushes the lower slide I82 forward until the opening N18 is about half-way under the magazine I. The for- .128 isin register with the opening I II in the plate 2.8;. The plate IfiI continues to move back andas it-does'so, the opening I01 lines up with the openings I08 and III and permits the token IE9 to drop through and be dispensed.

Fig. 8 shows the detent H3 pulled into the arresting position by the spring II5-and the plates IslI and I02 in positions just prior to engagement of the arm I84 of the slide I02 with the detent H3.

In the event that the-perforated disks GI, 62 and 63, after freely rotating, line up with their perforations permitting movement of one of the levers 52, 53, 54-, 55 or 5'5, the detent H3 is kept in the non-arresting position by the engagement of one of said levers with the detent, as illustrated in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7,thelever56is shownin engagement with the detent H3 and holding it against the action of the spring H5. With the detent held in non-arresting position, the openings I37 and I38 in the slides It'll and IIIZdo not line up with the opening H I in the plate I I2 and therefore the token in. the opening ID! is retained therein.

Fig. 4 showsa side viewv of the notched wheel 63, which is connected to the drum I3, when the finger of the lever 56 has passed through the disks 6|, 62 and 63 .and therefore has moved the detent 4'6 away from engagement with the arm 35 of the slide 25 under the magazine 6, and has permitted the spring 66 to pull the slide 26 into "such position that the opening E6 in the slide 26 registers with the opening 33 in the fixed plate 28 under the slide 26.

Fig. 4 also showsthe mechanism for freeing the drum 13 for rotation. As shown in the draw- "ings, the pawl 83 is in engagement with the notched disk 93, which is connected to the drum I3. When the handle 9 (shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) is pulled down, the rear bell-crank I2I is rotated about, its shaft I20 in a counter-clockwise direction and thereby engages the forward bellcrank I22 and causes it to move about the shaft fi l in a clockwise direction. As the forward bellcrank moves in a clockwise direction, it engages .the foot I23 of the pivoted pawl 83 and causes 'Drums' II and 12 shown in the other drawings are freed by the similar actions of levers 8| and 82, respectively.

,At the same time the foot I23 of the pawl 33 is moved clockwise, the lever I24. is moved forward until it is under the end 1250f the foot I 23 of j the pawl 83., By this time the rear bellcrank. I2I has moved up to its limitof movement and, has become disengaged from the actuating handle .9, whereupon itis pulled back in a.clockwise direction by the spring |46and permits the forward bell-crank I22 to drop back in a counterclockwise direction. The lever I24 then temporarily holds up the end I25 of the foot I23 of the pawl 83 so that the drum 13 can rotate freely. Removal of the pawls 8| and 82 fromengagement with the notched disks 9| and 92, respectively, is accomplished in the same manner, namely, by means of the forward bell-crank I22 and the lever I24.

In addition to causing the disengagement of the pawl 83 with the notched disk 93, the movement of the rear bell-crank I2I also causes the forward movement of the arm I26, to which is attached the dog I06 which engages the clearance bar I05, and the forward movement of the push levers I30 and I3I.

The forward movement of the push levers I30 and I3| is accomplished by the engagement of the lower end I21 of the rear bell-crank |2I with the pin I32 of the bell-crank I33, which is pivoted at the point I34, the levers I30 and |3| being pivotally connected to the bell-crank I33 at the point I35.

Reference is made at this point to Fig. 3, which shows a plan View of the system of levers recited above. As shown in Fig. 3, the bell-crank I 33 is pivoted at I34 and has an arm I36 to which is attached the spring I31. The pivot I34 is rigidly attached to the bell-crank I33 and also to the gear I 34' which is beneath the bell-crank I33 and engages a spur gear I38 which forms a part of a train of gears terminating in the gear I39, to which is connected the vane I40.

When the rear bell-crank |2| is operated by the handle 9 and moves in a counter-clockwise direction, its lower end I21 engages the pin I32 and thereby urges the bell-crank I33 in a counterclockwise direction. This counter-clockwise movement of the bell-crank I33 causes the arms I30 and I3| to move forward and these in turn move forward the pivoted lever I24 and cause the clockwise rotation of the arm I4| of the toggle I42, respectively.

The function of the pivoted lever I24 has been described above. The clockwise rotation of the arm I4I causes the other arm I43 of the toggle I4 2 to move in a counter-clockwise direction, and this in turn causes the detent I45 to move in a counter-clockwise direction.

Inasmuch as the dog I06, which engages the clearance bar I05, is started on its forward movement prior to the engagement of the end I21 of the rear bell-crank |2| with the pin I32 of the bell-crank I33, the clearance bar is moved into its most forward position prior to the time the counter-clockwise rotation of the detent I45 brings that member into the path of the clearance bar I05.

Thus, the counter-clockwise movement of the rear bell-crank I2| (Fig. 4) causes the clearance bar I to move forward and push against the arms 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 of the closure plates 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, and at the proper time moves the detent I45 into position behind the clearance bar to prevent the return of the clearance bar I05 until the proper time.

It will be noted that when the rear bell-crank I2 has reached the position whereby the clearance bar I5 has been moved forward and against the arms 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 of the closure plates 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, the spring I31 attached to the arm I36 of the bell-crank I33 has been extended by the counter-clockwise movement of the bell-crank I33.

When the bell-crank has caused the clearance bar I05 to reach its most forward position, engagement between, the handle 9 and the bellcrank IQI is discontinued by latch means not shown in the present drawings.

Upon disengagement between the handle 9 and the rear bell-crank being effected, the rear bell- ,crank |2I is pulled back to its starting position by the spring I46 connected thereto. The end I21 of the rear bell-crank I21 thus being removed from engagement with the pin I32 of the bellcrank I33, the bell-crank I33 is urged toward its starting position by the spring I31 connected to the arm I36. The rate of return of the bellcrank I33 to its starting position is controlled, however, by the rotating vane I40, which is driven by the train of gears beginning with the gear I34 and ending with the spur gear I39 connected to the shaft supporting the vane I40. The windage caused by the rotation of the vane I40 causes the return of the rear bell-crank 2-| to its starting position to be retarded and thereby permit free rotation of the drums II, 12 and 1 3 for a period of time of longer duration than would be the case were the rear bell-crank urged back by spring I31 without interference by the vane As the rear bell-crank |2I is slowly moved back to its starting position, it pulls the arm I of the toggle I 42 in a counter-clockwise direction and thereby causes the detent I45 to rotate about its pivot and release the clearance bar I05, which then is pulled back by the spring I55. It also pulls the pivoted lever I24 in a clockwise direction and this clockwise movement of the pivoted lever I24 draws that member from beneath the feet of the pawls BI, 82 and 83. Withdrawal of the pivoted lever I24 from beneath the feet of the pawls 8|, 82 and 83 permits those pawls to be drawn into engagement with the notched disks 9|, 92 and 93, respectively, and thus stop the rotation of the drums 1|, 12 and 13, respectively.

If the drums 1|, 12 and 13 are thus stopped in such positions that their respectively connected perforated disks 6|, 62 and 63 are so positioned that perforations in each of them line up to provide an opening into which the end finger of one of the levers 52, 53, 54, 55 or 56, (for example, the end finger 86 of the lever 56), can pass through all three of the disks 6|, 62 and 53, one of the closure members 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26 (for example, closure member 26) will operate as described above to permit a token to be dispensed from the magazine controlled by that closure member (for example, magazine 6).

In the event that the drums 1|, 12 and 13 come to rest in such positions that none of the fingers of the levers 52, 53, 54, 55 or 56 can pass through the disks BI, 62 and 63 as described above, the closure member under the magazine I is operated in the manner described above to dispense a token from that magazine.

It will be noted from the above that in the event that any one of the slides 22, 23, 24, 25.01 26 is moved into the dispensing position, the dispensing means under the magazine is rendered inoperative and no token will be dispensed from that magazine.

A modification of the means for preventing a pay-out from magazine I is illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11.

Fig. 9 shows the closure means 22, 23, 24, 25

and 250i the magazines 2, 3, 4; 5---and 6 in-the non-dispensing positions and the closure means of the'magazine I in the dispensing position. As shown'inFig- 10, theslide am having an opening 282 therein has been pulled back by the spring 203 because the detent 234 pivoted at 2Il5-has been pulled back out of the way by thespring 206. Thedetent 254 occupies the position shown in-Fig. 9 because none of the levers 52, 53, 54, 55 or 55.has acted. againstthe pivoted lever 201 to urge thedctent 254: in a clockwise direction.

When one of the levers 52, 53, 54, 55 or 55 moves it moves toward and into engagement with the. pivoted lever 26] and urges that lever in a clockwise. direction about its. pivot 209, which movement causes the detent 204 to move into the path of the movement of the slide 28!.

Movement of any of thelevers 52, 53, 54, 55 or filiasijustdescribed also causes a corresponding movement of. one of the respectively connected links242, 253, 254, 2 55, 245 which connect the detents 42, 63, 44, 45and fiwith the levers 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56, respectively.

Fig. 10 shows a side view of the modification shown in plan view. inv 9. .In Fig. 10, the movable slide. 2M with the opening 292 and the normal arm 2" is shown in the pay-out position, namely, with its opening 202.111 register with the opening 2 of the fixed plate 2I2 upon which the, movable slide ZEI rides.

.Fig. 11' shows a part of the modification shown in Fig. 9 and, Fig. 10, as indicated by the line XI-XI of Fig. 9.

When the handle 9. of the machine is pulled down, the, dog I08 is caused to move to the position indicated in Fig. 10 by the reference numeral I65, which is directed to the dotted outline of the dog. The movement of the dog I55 to the position I55 causes the slide 25I to'be moved so that its opening 252 is directly under the magazine I, and therefore in a position to receive a token from that magazine. approximately the same thicknesses that of a token, so that one and only one token can pass from the magazine into the opening 292 of the slide.

In the event that the rotation of the drums II, 22 and 73 has terminated with none of the levers 52, 53, 5A, 55 or 56moving, the return of the dog I08: to its original position permits the movable slide to be pulled back by the spring 283 until i the opening2fi2 containing a token is in register with the opening H I in the fixed plate 202. Accordingly, a token is dispensed by such movement.

If, however, the drums II, I2 and 73 stop in such positions that movement of any one of the levers 52, 53, 5d, 55 or 55 takesplace, the lever that is moved urges the pivoted lever 29'! against the detent 2G4 andcauses it to move into the path of the normal arm 258 of the slide The slide EGI thus-is held against movement by the detent 2M and no registering of the opening 252 of the slide 2M can take place with the opening 2I I of the fixed plate 2 I2. The pay-out from magazine I therefore is prevented, but pay-out from one of the magazines 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 is effected as described above.

While the foregoing disclosure has described in detail one embodiment of the present invention it will be realized that there are other modifications that are within the scope of the invention. For example, the revolvable drums andtheir respective perforated disks, which in thepresent disclosure are shown with their axis of rotation parallel withlthe front-of-the'machine} canbe The slide 2M is of 1 replaced by. revolvable disks having a common axis of-rotationperpendicular to the front of'the machine. In such amodification, the closure meansfoi tlie variousmagazines can be as described above and thedetents controllingsaid closure meanscanbe connected directly to the leversflthat cooperate-with the revolvable disks toselect the magazine that is to pay out at any givenoperation of the machine.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a vending machine, the combination comprising apluralitytof tokenmagazines and means for. withdrawing and dispensing one token only from one only of said magazines at each operation of the machine comprising a bottom closure memberfoneach of said magazines, and selective releasing means for said closure members comprising means operating upon said closure members. to urge them open, a detent for each of said closure-members restraining said opening means from opening-said closure members, and automatically operated means -for moving one only of said detents out of its restraining position at each operation of the machine.

2. In a vending machine, the combination comprising aplurality of token magazines and means for withdrawing and. dispensing one token only from one only of said magazines at each operation of the machine comprising a bottom closure member for. each of saidmagazines, and automatically operatedselective releasing means for said closure members comprising means operating upon saidclosure members to urge them open, a detent for each of said closure members restraining said opening means from opening said closuremembers, and means for moving one only of saidicletents out:of its restraining position at eachoperationof the machine comprising levers of thefirst classand links respectively connecting the detents' with said;:'levers of the first class, means exerting a moving force against said levers, means for restraining the movement of said levers and for automatically permitting one only of said levers to moveat each operation of the machine.

3. In a vendingmachine, the combination comprising aplurality of token magazines and means for withdrawing and dispensing one token only from oneonly of said magazines at each operation of'the machine comprising a bottom closure member for each of said magazines, and automatically operated, selective releasing means for said-closure members comprising means opera-ting upon-said closure members to urge them .open, a detent for each of 'said'closure members restraining said open-ing meansfrom opening said closure members, and means for moving one only of said detents out of its-restraining position at each operation of the machine comprising-levers of the first class and links respectivelyconnecting therl'tztents With.said levers of. the: first class, means exertinga moving;force against. said 1evers, means for restraining the movement of said leversandior automatically permitting one only. of saidl levers to move at each ,operationof, the machine comprising a finger rigidly attached to and projecting at an angle from the end of each lever opposite that to which ,the connecting link is attached and means for, actuating one only of said'fingers at one time.

4. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a plurality of token magazines and means forvvithdrawing and dispensing one token only from-one only; of said-magazines at each operation of the machine comprising a'bottom closure member for each of said magazines, and automatically operated selective releasing means for said closure members comprising means operating upon said closure members to urge them open, a detent for each of said closure members restraining said opening means from opening said closure members, and means for moving one only of said detents out of its restraining position at each operation of the machine comprising levers of the first class and links respectively connecting the detents with said levers of the first class, means exerting a moving force against said levers, means for restraining the movement of said levers and for automatically permitting one only of said levers to move at each operation of the machine comprising a finger rigidly attached to and projecting at an angle from the end of each lever opposite that to which the connecting link is attached, and means for actuating one only of said fingers at one time comprising a plurality of independently rotatable disks mounted coaxially and having a plurality of perforations therein providing a plurality of combinations wherein a perforation in one of the disks lines up with perforations in the other disks to provide an opening to receive one only of the said fingers and thereby permit full actuating movement of the lever to which said finger is attached.

5. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a plurality of token magazines and means for withdrawing and dispensing one token only from one only of said magazines at each operation of the machine comprising a bottom closure member for each of said magazines, and automatically operated selective releasing means for said closure members comprising means operating upon said closure members to urge them open, a detent for each of said closure members restraining said opening means from opening said closure members, and means for moving one only of said detents out of its restraining position at each operation of the machine comprising levers of the first class and links respectively connecting the detents with said levers of the first class, means exerting a moving force against said levers, means for restraining the movement of said levers and for automatically permitting one only of said levers to move at each operation of the machine. comprising a finger rigidly attached to and projecting at an angle from the end of each lever opposite that to which the connecting link is attached, and means for actuating one only of said fingers at one time comprising a plurality of independently rotatable disks mounted coaxially and having a plurality of perforations therein providing a plurality of combinations wherein a perforation in one of the disks lines up with perforations in the other disks to provide an opening to receive one only of the said fingers and thereby permit full actuating movement of the lever to which said finger is attached and providing also a plurality of combinations wherein the perforations of the several disks are out of alignment and thereby prevent full actuating movement of all of the levers.

ARDON A. BRADT. 

